---- Chapter 164, "You can say that in private all you want," Liam said sharply, his voice cutting through the room. "But saying something like that in front of a child-aren't you the least bit ashamed? " Cut off mid-sentence , Jenna was at a loss for what to do. All she could do was let her tears fall, hoping to win some sympathy by looking pitiful. However , Liam wasn't having it. He turned to Elias and said coldly, "Do you even know the whole story?

Believing whatever you're told without thinking it through -that's not something a sound, rational adult does." Elias stiffened, his pride bruised. "And what, you expect me to just take your word for it? Why don't we ask Ethan? Let's hear from him who's telling the truth." He was banking on Ethan siding with Jenna. He had clearly been won over by the woman who showered him with treats and toys. Wendy pressed her lips together and gave Liam's sleeve a gentle tug. She shook her head gently.

Liam glanced down at her, then gave the faintest nod in return -subtle, calm, reassuring. When she saw the exchange, Jenna suddenly perked up, regaining some confidence. ---- She sniffled and spoke gently. "Ethan, don't worry about upsetting me. Just say what you truly think, okay?" Ethan looked up at her, then at Wendy. He then raised his voice as she said, "I like Aunt Jenna!

I don't like my mean mommy!" Elias reached out to pat Ethan's head, his hand moving with smug approval as he shot a smug glance at Liam. "You hear that?" he said with a sneer. "Kids don't lie." Liam's face didn't so much as twitch. "True, kids don't lie. But their answers don't exactly have a shelf life. Should a group of grown adults really hinge their judgment on something so changeable?" Liam was beating around the bush, making Elias frown.

" What's that supposed to mean?" However, Liam ignored him. Instead, he crouched back down to Ethan's level, his tone calm and careful. "Your mother doesn't let you eat fried chicken or sweet stuff. Is that why you don't like her?" Ethan paused, clearly thinking hard, then nodded. "And she doesn't let me play with all the toys I want or buy everything I like. I don't like her at all." Liam nodded thoughtfully. "So you don't like it when Mommy does those things.

But what do you like about her?" Ethan blinked, processing the question. ---- Jenna felt her heart sink. She was just about to cut in when Ethan turned to Wendy and spoke his thoughts aloud. "T like it when Mommy makes yummy food. I like it when she cuddles me at night. I like when she picks me up from school before anyone else!" His face lit up with a sweet and innocent smile as he listed the things he loved-things he had been missing. But why did Wendy stop doing those things?

Pouting, Ethan huffed. "Mommy abandoned me, which made me hate her even more!" "You silly boy, how could you-" Wendy couldn't help but force a laugh as she spoke. Before she could finish her sentence, Liam cut her off sharply and said to Ethan, "It's not that your mom abandoned you. It's because someone else has taken her place by your side." Ethan blinked. "Someone else? Who?" He was too young to understand what that meant. But none of the adults in the room missed the implication.

Even if Elias was biased in Jenna's favor, it was clear by now that Ethan wasn't at all like she had described. Ethan's expression faltered , and he frowned as he looked at Jenna.